Multimolding concrete-block machine.



F. H. FOLDEN.

mummowms CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I w TNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON, n. c.

F. H. FOLDEN.

MULTIMOLDING CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. I9I3.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COQWASHINOTON, D. c.

F. H FOLDEN. MULTIMOLDING CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. I913- Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0" wAsulNn'roN. n. c.

F. H. FOLDEN.

MULTIMOLDING CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, I9I3- PD 1 9 1 0w 1 O 0 d B t n 6 t a D1 5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

{I ll WITNESSES I I mafizfa z) Mu WW,

%) ATT0RNEY,

F. H. FOLDEN.

MULTIMOLDING CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. I913.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVEN ATTORNEY,

- COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH ca, WASHINGTON, D. c.

rinrrnn sra'rns rarrnnr semen,

FRANK H. FOLDEN, 0F SIOUX'CI'IY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR T0 NORTH'WESTERN MANUFAC- TUBING- COMPANY, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

MULTIMOLDING CONCRETE-IBLOCK MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 6, i913. Serial No. 805,061.

1 "0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. FOLDEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Wood bury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multi molding Concrete-Block Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in multi-molding two-end-delivery hand machines for molding concrete building blocks;

and the objects of my improvement are,

first, to eliminate sliding movement of the molding faces of the molds on the molded faces of the blocks when the molds are being opened and the blocks delivered from the machine; second, to dispose the actuating gearing more compactly and in a manner to facilitate its protection'from the falling excess of and the scattered concrete when the molds are being filled and struck; third, to facilitate molding either two halfblocks, four quarter-blocks or one quarterlock and a three-quarter-block, in a single mold, at a single operation, Without changing the lateral position or regular action of the cores as used in molding any hollow block; fourth, to provide means to better and easier control and operate the cores; fifth, to facilitate molding simultaneously, in a single mold and at a single operation, both an outer and an inner'slab, suitable for walls of continuous hollow construction cross-bonded by metallic cramps or ties; and, sixth, to not only afford facilities for changing the molding faces of the molds to attain any ornamentation or diversity of surface desired on the molded blocks, but,

also to change the general shape of the block; especially to mold a longitudinally illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on-the broken line 1, of Fig. 2, showing the molds opened, one end arranged for mold-' ing plain full-sized blocks and the opposite end arranged for simultaneously molding inside and outside slabsfFig. 2', a top view of the open machine with parts cut away to disclose the eonstructiongFig. 3,

a handle-side elevation, the molds closed ready for filling; Fig. 4:, a top view of Fig. 3, the cores and slab-blade standing inserted only half way into the molds; Fig. 5, an

enlarged fragmental perspective view illus-- trating the connection of the faceplate, pallet-board, s lit core and dividing-plate; Fig 6, an enlarged perspective view of the core filler; Fig. 7, a perspective view of a whole curved hollow concrete block; Fig. 8, a fragmental end view of the machine, showing the open mold as arranged for molding a whole curved block; Fig. 9, a vertical section of the closed mold as arranged for molding curved half-blocks; Fig. 10, a perspectiveview of the pallet-board, having the Patented @ct. f9, 1915. y

curved strike-edge-strip attached to form I the outer curve or face of the block; and Fig. 11, a perspective view of one of the curved strike-edge strips to be removably seated on the top edge of the back-plates.

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts throughout all the views.

All the parts and plates composing the walls of the molds that stand directly against the concrete to form the various surfaces of the molded blocks, are moving parts of the machine movement ofopening and closing molds; the block is not formed in contact with any stationary supporting part of the machine, and delivery is made by the least possible movement of the block itself, while the principal molding members are withdrawn therefrom as the molds are opened and the block removed.

The'legged frame-plates 4i and 5, are spaced apart flatwise andrigidly connected by the lower cross-rods 6 and 6 and the upper stationary cross-shafts 'Z' and 8; these cross members have their ends tenoned to form intermediate shouldered portions of uniform lengths and their terminals are threaded to receive the nuts 9 turned home against the outer surfaces of the legged of the frame-plates; the faces of the opposite mold pallets being thus spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of two blocks and the interveningbaclr-plates 19; and 13, in the closed'molds, as shown in Fig. 4.

A pair of rocking carriers 14 and 15 are end of the machine. A like pair of rocking carriers 16 and 17, are re erselv mounted on the stationary cross-shaft 8. to carry the opv positely-moving mold members at this opposite end of the machine. The former pair of carriers have toothed segments 18 and 18 to engage like opposite toothed seerments 19 and 19 on the latterpair of carriers, con

necting the mold members of opposite ends to move reversely and simultaneously. A rocking; shaft 20 is boxed across below the toothed segments and carries mounted to turntherewith a pair of seq-mental pinions 21 and 21. disposed to engage the toothed segments 18 and 18. (7n an outwardlv proiecting' end o't'the rocking shait is mounted the operating handle 22. And the gearing and-connectedpartsare speed d and timed to a'll ow the handle a sweep of l'degrees. to lie hori ontal when the m lds are fully opened or closed. convenient for manual oneration and that the weight of the handle ma assist to retain the molds in one of these positions. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fach rocking carrier has. disposed o positelv .to its toothed segment. a sea 93 to carrvone end of a face-plate or mold bottommlate '94 or 25. and has a pallet arm 26 faced at .riq t an les to said seat: WherebV, the f ce 0" bottom-plates are reta ned horizo tal at t e bottom of the molds and the pall t "oard s Yertical thereto. when the molds are cl sed as shown in Figs. 3. 4. and 5: or. the tace-plat s swung outwardlv a one-ouart r turn. to the vertical position and the pallet'boards swu g do nwardly to a ho izoi tal ce. when t e molds are open as sho n in Figs. 2 and 8. The face-plate seats are extend d into the base ot thepallet a ms to form the notches 97 which enqage a carrv the inner-edges ot' the face-plates; while t e. perforated luo's 28. at the outer ends o the s ats. receh'e the screws 99 t read d into t e. facelates, to detachably fa s n th m to the. carriers. 'T setae or l ttom-nlat 's are a l n at lena'thsot'the molds ac oss the mach ne be-. t een the d-p ates 30 and 30 or 31 and.

The haelnp ates 19 and 13. ha e atthe. ends of t ei lo er edg t e doubl eatensio ns or arsffl. to stradd e the roc rinq car-I awt t r ang s near t e swin rino ede es ot h t tom-rlates. The rod pintles and 33 dis posed acrossthroughthese forks or ears and the interposed carriers. hinge these parts together so that the back-plates, in effect, swing against the adjacent edges of the face or bottom-plates rhen the molds are closed; the back-plates of the opposite end molds standing verticallv against men other at the center of the machine as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. An arched opening 3% through the frame-plates facilitates the withdrawal of the pintle rods to detach the back-plates and substitute others of ditl'erent designs of molding faces. At the ends of the top edges of these back-plates. outwardly-extending lugs are formed to engage the notches 36 in the top edges of the frame-plates to lock the back-plates in their vertical position when the molds are closed. The connecting guide-links or bars 37 and 37 have their inner ends pivoted to the outer ends of adjacent opposite back plate luors. and their outer ends pivoted at 38 and 38, the upper outer angles of the frame-plates; being thus disposed on the outer face ot the frame-plate and below the top or strike edges of the moldmembers. The top ede'es 39 of these bars are beveled outwardlv to prevent a deposit of concrete thereon. The links control the movements of the rising baclt-plates, so that the molded blocks and back edge of the bottom-plates turn out away from the back-plates as the molds are opened: and the back-plates are correctly seat d when the molds are cl sed.

Of the pairs of opposed end-plates 30 and 3].. each plate has pe forated base ears 40 to aline with like ears 41 on the adiacent rocking carriers to receive the removab e pintles 42: wherebv, the end-plates are detachably hinged to the rock ng carriers to stand outwardly in the same planes as the bottomp ates. when the mo ds 2 e onen. as shown in Figs. 2 and 8; or to stand rightanggularlv upward at the ends of the bottom-plate as shown in gs. 4 and 9. when the molds are closed. These end-plates ha e a com ound motion at open ng or clos ng-the molds: At o en ng. they first s ng out ardlv edgew se bv the action of the rocking carriers. Dur ng th s part of the movement lnsrs 4 3 nroiectins from the backs ot the hinged bases of the end-p ates. tra 'el in the cur ed stopped z 'oores 44 n the inner cont g ous faces of the frame-plates. As t e nd of the o en ng mo ement is approached the lusts engage the s oo ed ends 45 ot' the g"oocs. to turn the ates fiatw se and outwa dlv on their h ged bases: here he" s and awav from the ends otthe mo d d b ocks. Tn c osinsfhe mo d. the end-plates are -fi"st swung fiat ise inwardl h" the b cks of the bases ot the plates-engaging the adiacent tical ed es-14 1" the;franie nla-tes-see F"-g.- 2-.th'e lugs reenteringand travel ng down thecurved groo es as the plates sw ng nyeredgevrlse to their upright PCS-1- tions between the ends of the back-plates and pallet-boards, as shown in Fig. 4. It is obvious that other endplates of dilferent olesign of mold-face may be substituted for any of the detachable end-plates shown.

The pallet arms each have a U-shaped loop 47, bent outwardly and backwardly from the center of its seat face, to carry and guide the core-heads 48 and 49. A laterally and outwardly bent brace 50 spans the mouth of the U to strengthen the pallet arm and clear the ends of the core heads when they are inserted or removed from the guide loops or core-head carriers. The core-heads span the ends of the machine crosswise beneath or back of the pallet boards, each end of a head carr ed by a guide loop, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each core-head has a pair of legs 51 and 51, disposed right angularly, one from near each end of the head and adjacent to the carrvinp' looo' )ro'ected outwardl backl 7 3 wardly to the face of the pallet arm and pallet board. The inner or under s des of these legs have the toothed racks 52; and the upper outer faces are broadened for strength and to shield the racks and their driving pinions 53, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4-.

The driving shafts 54 and 54 are disposed across. one at each end of the machine. and journaled in the bows-55 at the bases of the guide-loops. The driving pin ons are mounted on these shafts to cnga ge the racks of the legs. The projected front ends of these driving shafts are provided with the cranks 56 and 56 bv the turning of which the core heads are slid forth and back in the guideloops toward and from the pallet-boards and molds.

l-"he core sect ons or halves 57 are seated on the face of the head 49 to project oppositely f om the legs toward and through the pallet-board 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4-. Fach co e is comuosed of a sem -cyl ndrical half having a base bridge 58 to form a seat aga nst the core head: the bridge being perforated to receive the attaching screw 59 threaded in the head. The halves of a core are spaced apart, three-eighties of an inch, the th ckness of an ord nary mortar joint. to allow the insert on there-between of the d d ng plates 60, in order to mold quarters, ha es and three-ouarter blocks. In the s ng e co e for mold ng a hollow half blocn, the doub e core for mold ng a hollow three- .guarter b ock or the triple core for molding a hollow whole block. the space between oppos te co e halves is closed by the fil er This tiller consists of an integral rectangular cast ron frame having oppositely beveled linped edges 62 to fit the opposed beveled edges 63 of the core halves; these long tudinal edges of the core halves being beveled inwardly so that their peripheral sharpened edges will contact perfectly with the dividing plates. A threaded opening 64 through the base of the filler receives a fastening screw 65 disposed through the per foration 66 disposed through the core head centrally between the bridges of the opposite core halves. The halves are sharpened to form cutting edges 67 on the lower portions of their forward ends. And a portion is cut away from the lower edge near the base of each half to form a discharge opening 68, to empty any concrete out from the partially filled mold when the core turned in;

The dividing plates 60 exceed in height the depth of the closed mold, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 9, sutliciently to seat in the groove (39 in the face of the bottom faceplate ;in plain bottom plates this groove is filled by a special strip 70, retained by screws, as shown in Fig. 8, when blocks larger than quarters are molded thereon. The lip-standing edge of the dividing plate is slctted to form the loop handle 71. And. has an extcnsicn 72 to overlap the top edge of the black-plate and carry the dowel-pin 73 to seat in one of the dowel-holes 74 in the baclcplate, to retain the top of the dividing plate against lateral (llSDlilCQlllErHl) while filling and tamping the mold. These dividing plates and the cores are usually withdrawn before opening the mold to remove a. molded block.

The pallet boards are preferably made integral of castiron. They consist of the oblong thin plate body 75, to form the molding face and are reinforced by the integral rib of rectangular plan disposed on the back of the plate, as best shown in Fig. 10. 'l he end portions 3 of the rib are disposed flush with the ends of the plate to give a convenient strong hand-hold in bearing away the blocks. The longitudinal side portions 76 are spaced inwardly from the edges of the plate to better support the center poi ions of the plateagainst the strain of tamping in filling the molds. These side ribs have at their ends the backwardlydisposed hooks 77, which stand opposed to the outsfdes of the carrying arms 26,-see Figs. 4 and 8,-- to prevent endwise displacement of the seat ed pallets. The backs of these hooks are inclined to facilitate seating the pallet board on the arms. and the hooks also serve as legs to elevate the brard and give free circulaticn of air beneath and through the imposed block while it is hardening. The three central. apertures 78, in the pallet board 11, to admit the cores to and from the mold ,are not modified in size or position for molding any of the hollow blocks. Howeventhe apertures are filleo or whole pallet-boards are used in molding solid blocks. *Ari'd a pallehboard 10 has the single central longitudinal slot?? to pass the par."

tition or cutting slab-blade 80, used in molding'face and inside slabs for walls having a continuous hollow,-see Figs. 1, 2 and 4-.

The blade to cut and separate the blocks into face and back slabs, is made from a single sheet of steel plate. It has a forward cutting edge 81, and an oppositely disposedbase consisting of a right angularly flanged edge 82 and the reversely-standingtabs 83 and 83, formed of partly severed portions of the plate. Through these perforated tabs fastening screwsSl are inserted to rigidly set the blade on the core head 48, and like the cores it is actuated by turning the connected crank 56. This mold is usually first filled a little more than half full, then the cutting blade is turned in and the filling for the plain inner slab is tamped in on top of it. To avoid fracturing the thin slabs, the mold is first opened, turning the slabs to stand up edgewise, then the dividing blade is withdrawn downwardly. V The blade is guided in the mold by its side edges 85 sliding inthe grooves 86 in the faces of the end-prints 87.

The end prints are removably attached to the mold faces of the end plates by the screws 88 disposed through their reduced ends 89,as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. They substantially correspond in shape and position with the inserted core halves 57, and in the closed mold are disposed in alinement with the complete set of insertedj cores.

l i hen an end-quarter, a half or threequarter block is molded, these end prints meld an end corresponding to the opposite end molded by one of the core halves. The grooves that guide the slab blade are filled by strips 90, see Figs. 2 and 8,removably fastened by the screws 91, when these prints are used in connection with the regular cores. The reduced ends that forman adjacent shoulder on the. end-print, molds the hand-holds 92, asshown on the ends of the curved.block,l ig. 7.

Of the numerous possibilities of changes in the molding faces of the members, I have chosen to set forth those required to mold the curved blocks; which have the principal features of the regula; hollow-molded straight blocks and in addition to the curvas ture, have, in one of the bed faces a concentrically curved groove 93, to receive a circular bondingrod' laid in the bed joints of the wall. it is obvious that special integral curved bottom and back plates may be substituted to attain the changes required for molding this curved block, inlike manner as are the substitute end-plates 94, shown in Figs. 8 and 9; these end plates having their faces inclined and the end-prints regug larly attached to mold the splayed ends. of

the blocks for the radial heading joints. -.of;

the wall. But; like many other changes ir d i t e m ld n headle s are ree s:

erably attained by'adding parts to the regular faces of the working members.

A short sub-bottom plate 95, of face curvature corresponding with that required for the inner face of the wall, is imposed on the face of the bottom plate 2-1, to fill between the overlapping base shoulders 90 of the splayed end plates and is dctachably fastened by thescrews 97. A segmental strikeedge-plate 98, has its arc edge curved to agree with the outer face of the wall, and dowel-pins 99 spaced along its chord edge to agree with the dowel holes in the top edges of the back plates, and by which it is seated and retained thereon. This edge plate also has the centrally-disposed dowel hole 100 in its curved edge to receive the dowel-pin 73 of the dividing plate 00, when molding curved half-blocks,-indicated by the dotted lines 101 in Fig. 7. A like segmental strike-edge-plate 102 has the footed cleats'lOS perforated to receive the attaching screws 10%, by which it is detachably fastened on an edge of the pallet-board to correspond with the like edge on the bacleplate. The filled mold is struck by a straight-edge spanned across on these curved edges. The curved groove-print sections 105 are spaced in a row on the face of the back plate to fill the spaces between the ends of the inserted cores. The row is disposed centrally of the space between the curved bottom plate and the curved top edge of the back plate and is curved concentrically therewith. These groove-print sections are reinovably attached to the mold face of the back plate by the. screws 106.

Connecting shield-plates 107 and 108, are disposed across the upper and outer branches of the looped core-head guides and carriers 417, and fastened thereto by the screws 109. These bind together the opposite side members of each pair of rocking carriers into a single rocking mold carrier at each end of the machine, and shield the Withdrawn cores and the slab blade, and their actuating mechanism, while the molds are being filled. The lower outer corners of these plates are notched to form the guide openings 110, to carry the sliding legs 51 with the toothed racks in engagement with the driving pinions 53.

In operation, when the molds are closed the operating gearing is beneath the mold parts which completely shield these driving connections from any falling concrete until the molds are struck and the excess of filling brushed away. As has been set forth, when themolds are opened all the molding faces, except those of the pallet-boards and bottomsplates, swing away from the molded blocks. The pallet-board, on which a block isfott-borneand left to stand to cure, is first, with. the imposed outwardly-turned block,

rawnditsdd. aw y. fr m e a em-r a support-plates spaced flatwise, and axiallyalined rocking mold carriers disposed adjacent to the inner faces of and pivoted to rock into and out of the space between the support-plates, in combination with'mold endplates hinged to the rocking carriers to stand backed against the support-plates and in sliding contact therewith when rocked edgewise by the carriers, a tooth on the back of the hinge-base of each end-plate, a groove curved concentrically with the axis of the rocking carriers in the inner face of each support-plate to pass the tooth, and a stop end to each groove disposed to engage the tooth and swing the end-plate flatwise after it is rocked edgewise out of the space between the support-plates.

2. In a concrete block mold, a pair of axially-alinecl and spaced rocking mold-carriers, and a mold back-plate hinged at its lower edge to the carriers, in combination with stationary support-plates having notches in their top edges, extensions at the ends of the top edge of the back-plate adapted to seat inthe notches, and a guide link having one end jointed to one of said extensions and the opposite end jointed to the adjacent support-plate.

3. In a concrete block mold, stationary support-plates spaced flatwise, and axiallyalined rocking mold carriers journaled adjacent to the inner faces of said supportplates to rock into and out of the space therebetween, in combination with mold endplates hinged at one edge on the rocking carriers to stand backed against the supportplates when rocked into the space thereb'etween and adapted to rock edgewise into and out of said space in sliding contact with the support-plates and to swing fiatwise away from the molded block only when rocked out of said space.

4. In a concrete block mold, a pair of axially-alined rocking mold carriers spaced apart, a radial pallet arm on each carrier, a removable apertured pallet adapted to seat on said arms and span the space therebetween, a core adapted to slide through the aperture of the pallet, and a rearwardly disposed guide-loop on each pallet arm, in combination with a core head-bar attached to the base of the core disposed across the space between said loops and having its ends seated to slide in the loops, outwardlyextended toothed guide-legs on the core head-bar, suitable gearing connected to engage the toothed legs and slide the core head-bar, and a shield-plate rigidly fastened across on the guide-loops andrhaving its outer edge bent onto the outer ends of the loops and notched to form guideways for the toothed legs.

5. in a COi'lCitiLe block mold, a pair of stationary support-plates disposed in spaced relation l'latwise, rocking mold carriers journaled to swing moid members in and out of the opposite ends of the space between the support-plates, and suitable mechanism to connect and rock the carriers simultaneously inopposite directions, in combination with opposite mold each-plates hinged at their lo er edges to the respective carriers, end extensions on the baclr-plates to form seat lugs, notched seats at the top centers of the su port-plates L0 receive together the corresponding seat lugs of opposite mold backpiates backed against each other when the molds are rocked to the inward limit, and guide-links connected to the bacli-plates and LO said support-plates.

6. in a concrete block mold of the character herein described, vertical stationary support-plates disposed in spaced relation l'la wise, and osciiiatabie carriers journaied to rock the mold members into and out of the space between the support-plates and having bottom'piate seats and pallet seats in angular relation, in combination with a bottom-plate having a longitudinallycurved inold face, a pallet having its top edge curved concentrically with the curvature of the face of the bottom-plate, end plates hinged to the carriers to stand backed against the adjacent support-plates with their mold faces splayed in alinement with the axis of the curved mold face of the bottom-plate when the mold members are rocked into the space between the supportplates, a back-plate hinged at its bottom edge to the carriers and having its top edge curved to agree with the top edge of the seated pallet, and a rib disposed on the mold face of the back-plate and curved concentrically with the axis of curvature of the othe curved mold members.

7. In a concrete block mold of the character herein described, vertical stationary support-plates disposed in spaced relation flatwise, and rocking mold carriers journaled to rock the mold members into and out of the space between the support-plates, in combination with a back-plate hinged at its lower edge to said carriers, a longitudinallydisposed curved rib on the mold face of the back-plate and curved in a plane pa allel with said mold face, and inclined-faced endplates hinged at their bottom edges tothe carriers to stand backed against said support-plates with their inclined faces in alinement with the axis of said curved rib when the mold members are rocked into the space between the support-plates.

8. In a concrete block mold of the character herein described, vertical stationary support-plates disposed in fspa'ced jrelation fi'ativise, and rocking molds carriers. join.- naled to carry the rmolding members. into and out of the space between the, supportplates, in combination with end mold-plates having thinned top edges and thickened bottom 01' base edges hinged to the adjacent carriers to stand backed against said support-plates when rocked into the space FRANK H. FOLDEN.

Witnesses:

H. J. FERGUSON, .Y J BALLACHEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Copies ot this patent maybe obtained f or,

I v Washington, D. C. 

